John Sandford writes serial novels just as engaging as the crime drama shows on evening television. If you like watching NCIS, CSI, or Law and Order, or any of their spin offs, the Prey series by John Sandford would be a great series to get into for more gripping action in book form.

The Prey series features detective Lucas Davenport. In the beginning, Lucas is just a police detective in Minnesota. By the sixth book in the series he’s moved up to deputy level and occasionally travels to Wisconsin as well. By the 14th book Lucas is working for the state bureau of criminal investigation and by book 19 has a wife and an adopted daughter. Like all good serial stories the immediate murder mystery is solved, and the personal lives of the main characters are advanced as well. In the previous installment of the series, Lucas has made a few political missteps and enemies at the state level as well. He is finally let go from his prestigious job working for the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension after a particularly harrowing case involving danger to his daughter.

Now in Extreme Prey, Lucas has been asked by his friend the governor to investigate some strange occurrences with the Minnesota governor’s recent campaign for a presidential slot. Lucas has seen crazy criminals in his long career, but none quite compare to the single minded political workers he’s encountering on the campaign trail.

Timely to this year’s presidential run and always a gripping adventure, Extreme Prey could be your next great summer read. And the library has most of the back series if you’re interested. I highly recommend the audiobook versions read by Richard Ferrone as well.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit.